Steve Silverman, a two-term County Council member is running for Montgomery County Executive. On the surface his campaign is based on two things: First, his campaign encourages us, “Let’s build the Purple Line!” That is, build a MetroRail (light rail/subway) between the Shady Grove station (the end of the Red Line western Montgomery County) and the College Park station (end of the Green Line in Prince Georges County). He’s going to fix the traffic. Great because I certainly hate the traffic.
Second, Silverman’s other campaign pillar is, “Say “No” to Ike’s Gas Tax!” That is, Ike Leggett, the other major Democratic candidate, is on the record as saying that he’d raise the gas tax 10-15 cents per gallon. So, Silverman wants to save me money too. Great because I don't want to spend money.
Here’s my problem. Silverman’s first pillar is a classic and complete phantom. An empty promise that elicits excitement but no thinking person can believe is a real or viable issue. When it doesn’t work or magically come true he blames it on “them” – the bureaucrats that have tied his hands (think Virginia repeal of the “car tax” - didn't then Gov. George "Macaca" Allen phamtom that one?). He’s not going to fix the traffic, and he’s not going to find the multi-billions of dollars to finance the Purple Line construction? Where’s the funding going to come from? Not a gas tax, that’s for sure (which would be a logical place to get traffic reduction funding from, wouldn’t it?).
Besides, I have experienced the Silverman magic up close. It is my opinion (based solely on my personal beliefs and experience) that he is a disingenuous, opportunistic, typical politician. And by “typical” I mean every negative stereotype of the word “politician” one could dredge out of a focus group.
Here’s what Silverman says about traffic:
“We must act locally. While major congestion relief must come from State and federally funded projects like the ICC and the Inner Purple Line, we must also build local roads, put more buses on the road, expand transit incentives, and build sidewalks and hiker-biker paths so more commuters will get out of their cars. There are also a host of bread and butter projects that we can do in the here and now to relieve traffic congestion. A whopping 25% of congestion is due to crashes and disabled vehicles. That's why we put a traffic SWAT team on our roads to get the breakdowns off the road and onto the shoulders so the rest of the traffic can move.”
Where’s the plan? Where’s the money? You know what else causes traffic based on my experience? When the State Troopers pull someone over for carpool violations on I-270, the pretty flashing lights slow the traffic down. It’s normal; everyone slows to take a look at the situation then, once past, it’s clear and open roads. Oh, a lot of traffic builds up in bad weather. SWAT teams? What are we in third grade? Maybe we can put a SWAT team on the weather too or abolish the highway patrol. Oh, and the County is growing very fast. Maybe we can put SWAT on growth too. And, I like the folksy “bread and butter” reference.
I don’t know Ike Leggett, but I’d vote for him and happily pay my gas tax (there's a "transit incentive"). Real traffic solutions will only come about when the price of gas is a much bigger issue than the traffic. Besides, that tax can fund something useful like hiker-biker paths so I can hike to work with my kid. It’s only 18 miles.
Who are you trying to fool?
It’s a sad day in competitive politics when Silverman’s “attack” ad against Ike Leggett goes something like this, “Ike Leggett. Good Guy. Bad Ideas.” As I see it, you can teach a good guy some really good ideas, but you can’t teach a bad guy shit. This is what Tom Scharpling would say, “Good guys win – bad guys die.” Steve Silverman? No thanks.
Political Rant #2:
How dare you Michael Steele. How dog damn dare you. Shame!
Michael Steele is running for Maryland Senate. Michael is currently the loose-lipped, fumbling Lt. Governor. He’s a Republican. A black Republican.
Good web site, well run campaign. Great TeeVee ad. The weakest aspect of his campaign, by the way, is the candidate. Lots of blue on his website. You know, blue. Blue state blue. Go to his site and try to find the word “republican.” I’ll wait…. Oh, you can’t? Try the “About Michael Steele” page. I’ll wait again…. Oh, you can’t? That’s because he’s either ashamed that he’s a republican or he’s deliberately hiding the fact that he’s a republican. Oh, he’s a republican! Oh! And, that carries no agenda, perspective, or baggage. None whatsoever.
People notice. Today’s Post, for example:
The absence of Ehrlich and Steele illuminates a balancing act the two men face: the need to appeal to their Republican base as they also try to win office in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans 2 to 1 and where 60 to 70 percent of voters do not approve of Bush's performance.
When Steele, in anonymous remarks traced to him last month, was asked whether he wanted the president campaigning for him, he responded, "To be honest . . . probably not."
Zach P. Messitte, a historian of Maryland politics and director of the Center for the Study of Democracy at St. Mary's College of Maryland, said he found it puzzling that Ehrlich and Steele would not want to appear with Bush in St. Mary's, a reliably red county in a blue state. Indeed, Rove pointed out to the White House press corps that the county was "one of the most rapidly growing Republican counties in Maryland."
Who are you trying to fool? Who are you trying to insult? I'm on to you guys.
